How I Found Freedom In Vacationing Without My Camera

March 18, 2017

i bet you read that title and thought i was nuts to go on vacation without my camera. but really, i might be on to something here. when heading on our first family vacation with our daughter in january, my husband encouraged me to leave my camera at home. this was partly because he knew i was in need of a truly relaxing vacation and also because it can sometimes be stressful to worry about expensive gear while vacationing. (how to pack it just right, where to put it when you don’t want to bring in on an outing, how to keep it safe by the pool, and not to even mention the danger of sand near a dslr). and to be real, the thought of vacationing without my camera didn’t come natural to me. i was instantly in disagreement about leaving my camera behind but, after really thinking about it, i felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

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How I Found Freedom in Vacationing Without My Camera

i do realize that vacations are one of the biggest opportunities for photographs and, as a photographer, i always feel compelled to document our travels in pictures. while i always vacation with my dslr, this vacation was just different. it was our first getaway as a brand new family, and i was ready for a true break. for me, a true break involves putting my camera down. of course, i took my iphone and did pull it out from time to time to document certain moments of our trip. it’s only natural to want to photograph our memories, but the feeling of not having to was pure freedom.

instead of worrying about what lens to use or what angle would be best, i found that i was simple in the images i took, reacted on first instinct when i was presented with an inspiring photo opportunity, and then enjoyed my trip. because i decided to not take my nikon on our beach trip, i instead brought some fun lens attachments for my iPhone that proved to be a fun way to get interesting images without bringing along a dslr. this little aukey lens set comes with a macro, wide angle and fish eye lens attachments and i felt that the variety helped me still have fun with taking photos, but they are all small enough to fit in my pocket.

the decision of vacationing without my camera was a blessing. i was able to get some great photos with my phone, using the lens attachments, while enjoying myself and not feeling the pressure to create stunning imagery. it was the best of both worlds. i walked away with images that document the time and the unique surroundings where we vacationed, while truly having a memory of being relaxed and present. in the end, i won’t say that i will always do this, as photography truly is my passion. but vacationing without my camera showed me that not everything is about pictures. and it showed me that, while i love photographing, i love stepping away from my camera from time to time to relax. if you ever want to try vacationing without your camera, i would definitely recommend it. it’s a beautiful feeling to truly feel carefree.